Gate latch



Aug. 18., 1970 F. Q-WEsTMQRELAND, JR 3,

- A E LATCH Filed July 22. 19,68

. (NYE/V702 F's-ax 0. war-Mo/ea/m/g Q/z United States Patent OfliC 3,524,668 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A latch for a fence gate, the latch including a catch secured to a gate post, the catch including a U-shaped bracket forming a channel receiving a trigger pivotably carried on the gate.

This invention relates generally to fence gate latches wherein it is desried to have a conveniently operated latching mechanism which is easily opened by a trigger type activator and which is spring pressed to the locking position.

A principal object is to provide an improved gate latch for a fence gate; the gate latch being designed for withstanding many years of hard use.

Another object is to provide a gate latch which includes a catch secured to a fence post and a pivotable trigger carried on the gate; the trigger being detachably attachable to the catch.

Other objects are to provide a gate latch which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention shown assembled.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the parts thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a gate latch according to the present invention wherein there is a catch 11 that is secured by a bolt 12 to a fence post 13; the bolt being afiixed by a nut 14. The catch 11 includes a channel 15 formed within a U-shaped bracket 16 which comprises a part of the catch.

A semi-cylindrical base plate 17 and a semi-cylindrical trigger guard plate 18 are placed upon opposite sides of a gate post 19 and rigidly secured together by bolts 20 passed through the base 17, trigger guard 18 and gate post 19, the bolts being fitted with nuts 21. A hold handle 22 is integrally formed on the trigger guard.

A pin 23 is supported within bearings 24 formed on the base 17, the pin supporting thereupon a pivotally free trigger 25 having bearings 26 for receiving the pin 23. The trigger 25 comprises generally a centrally pivotable lever having a handle 27 at one end and a flat face plate 28 at the opposite end against which one end of a C0111- pression coil spring 29 bears; the opposite end of the spring bearing against a face plate 30 formed on base 17 so to normally urge the face plate of the trigger into the channel of the catch.

In operative use, the gate may be unlatched by simply pivoting the trigger handle so that the trigger face plate is withdrawn from the channel. Now the gate is free to be moved away from the fence post.

Obviously, the construction could be modified to comprise a toggle type latch wherein the trigger is engageable at opposite corners of the channel and wherein the gate may be opened in both directions.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a gate latch, a catch with one side contoured to fit and be snugly mounted on a fence post, said catch having an integral opposite side of U-shape forming a channel, in combination with a latching device contoured to be snugly mounted on a gate post opposite the catch, said latching device including an L-shaped lever pivoted thereon about an axis parallel to the said gate post, said lever having a trigger activating end and a catch engaging end adapted to fit within the catch channel, further including a spring biasing the catch engaging end to the locking latched position within the channel, said catch engaging end being pivotable to an unlatched position external of the channel whereby the gate can be moved past the catch.

2. A gate latch as defined in claim 1 wherein the said one side of the catch is semi-cylindrical and is secured to the fence post by a bolt extending through the gate post and the center of the catch to the channel area.

3. A gate latch as defined in claim 1 wherein the latching device includes a fixed portion mounted on the gate post and a handle portion mounted on the gate post opposite the fixed portion, said handle portion having an extension in alignment and spaced from the trigger ac tivating end, said fixed portion having a bearing for receiving a pivot pin and the said lever at a point between the trigger end and the catch end generally within the channel area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,195 6/ 1924 Palmer 292228 1,843,454 2/1932 Manson 248-221 1,961,904 6/1934 Meyer 292228 2,128,825 8/1938 Julin 292228 X 2,797,118 6/1957 Yoder 29287 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner 

